Difference between revisions of "Halloween In Arkham"

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<br/>
 
<br/>
 
''This information provides the basis for some evidence concerning the release date and the significance of this item.<br/>
 
''This information provides the basis for some evidence concerning the release date and the significance of this item.<br/>
: ''First - as far as we know, there were three 12" bootlegs released in 1984:  
+
: ''First - as far as we know, three 12" bootlegs were released in 1984:  
: ''- [[Live At Brixton Ace]], [[Psychedelic Sessions 1984]] and [[The Lights Shine Clear Through The Sodium Haze]] (with its derivatives [[Mercyful Release]] and [[A Merciful Release]]).  
+
: ''[[Live At Brixton Ace]], [[Psychedelic Sessions 1984]] and [[The Lights Shine Clear Through The Sodium Haze]] (with its derivatives [[Mercyful Release]] and [[A Merciful Release]]).  
: ''These three were the ones with which everything started.
+
: ''These three were the Sisters bootlegs that started everything. Then, in 1985, many more new bootlegs followed - with some significant ones among them. Nowadays it is difficult to figure out in which order they were released, but considering the remark about [[No Time To Cry (song)|No Time To Cry]], one can fairly conclude that '''Halloween in Arkham''' was one of the first bootlegs ever.''
 +
 
 +
: ''[[Cryptic Flowers]], [[Halloween's Day]], [[Knocking On Heavens Door (bootleg)|Knocking On Heavens Door]] and [[The Dancer's Reward]] do also feature [[No Time To Cry (song)|No Time To Cry]] that was said ''unreleased'' at that time.''<br/>
 +
: ''[[Armageddon Outtakes]], [[Disguised In Black]], [[Stonehenge]] and [[Tune In - Turn Off - Burn Out|Tune In ... Turn Off ... Burn Out ...]] contain recordings from concerts performed in May, April or, accordingly, on the 16th or 13th of March 1985. These gigs took place after the release of [[No Time To Cry (song)|No Time To Cry]]. So, in conclucion, all of these eight albums were released later than the present one.''
 +
 
 +
: ''This still doesn't give us a clue for the exact release dates of the bootlegs [[Live In The Troyan Horse]] and [[Possession (12" bootleg)|Possession]], though the name of the latter album suggests is was release late in 1985 as the song [[Possession (song)|Possession]] from which the bootleg title might be derived, was first released on March 11th, 1985 on [[First And Last And Always (album)|First And Last And Always]] and performed live for the first time during the [[Gigography|Tune In - Turn On - Burn Out tour]]. That tour started on March 9th 1985. Unfortunately we can`t proof this coherence, but at least we can reasonably conclude that '''Halloween in Arkham''' was among the first six 12" bootlegs ever released for [[Main Page|The Sisters Of Mercy]].<br/>
  
: ''Then in 1985 a lot of new bootlegs were released - with some significant ones among them. Nowadays it is difficult to figure out
 
: ''in which order they were released, but considering the remark on [[No Time To Cry (song)|No Time To Cry]], one can fairly conclude that '''Halloween in Arkham''' was one of the first bootlegs ever.
 
<blockquote>
 
: - ''[[Cryptic Flowers]], [[Halloween's Day]], [[Knocking On Heavens Door (bootleg)|Knocking On Heavens Door]] and [[The Dancer's Reward]] feature [[No Time To Cry (song)|No Time To Cry]], which was said to be ''unreleased'' at that time.<br/>
 
: - ''[[Armageddon Outtakes]], [[Disguised In Black]], [[Stonehenge]] and [[Tune In - Turn Off - Burn Out|Tune In ... Turn Off ... Burn Out ...]]
 
: &nbsp;&nbsp;''contain recordings from concerts that were performed in May, April or accordingly on the 16th or 13th of March 1985. These gigs took place after the release of [[No Time To Cry (song)|No Time To Cry]].
 
</blockquote>
 
: ''So these eight albums were released after the present one.
 
: ''We still don't have any hint about the exact release dates of the bootlegs [[Live In The Troyan Horse]] and [[Possession (12" bootleg)|Possession]] (although it seems that the name of this last album arose from the song [[Possession (song)|Possession]], which first appeared on the album [[First And Last And Always (album)|First And Last And Always]] released the 11th of March 1985 and was performed live first during the [[Gigography|Tune In - Turn On - Burn Out tour]], which started on the 9th of March - unfortunately we can`t proof this coherence), but at least we can assure that '''Halloween in Arkham''' was within the first six 12" bootlegs ever released for [[Main Page|The Sisters Of Mercy]].<br/><br/>
 
 
: ''Second - it was the first time that a proper song of the [[Main Page|The Sisters Of Mercy]] was publicated prior to the official release.
 
: ''Second - it was the first time that a proper song of the [[Main Page|The Sisters Of Mercy]] was publicated prior to the official release.
: ''The '84 bootlegs so far offered alternative versions like the [[Psychedelic Sessions 1984]] album do or live recordings ([[Live At Brixton Ace]] and [[The Lights Shine Clear Through The Sodium Haze]] - the latter in combination with two afore released studio recordings). But to have all this together and moreover an unpublished Sisters composition on one record was totally new, and - of course - immediately sought-after.<br/>
+
: ''The '84 bootlegs offered so far had contained alternative versions like the [[Psychedelic Sessions 1984]] album, or live recordings like [[Live At Brixton Ace]] and [[The Lights Shine Clear Through The Sodium Haze]], the latter in combination with two studio recordings released earlier). Having all these features together on one Sisters bootleg and in addition even an unpublished Sisters composition, that was something totally new, and - of course - the bootleg became immediately sought-after. Insofar, '''Halloween in Arkham''' was right from the start an essential and significant collectors' item.<br/>
  
: ''Therefore '''Halloween in Arkham''' was right from the start an essential and significant bootleg.<br/>
+
: ''Its significance is also reflected in the fact that over many years '''Halloween in Arkham''' was "blindly" taken as the source of information on the setlist of a concert that didn't even take place, just because the back cover gives the wrong date for the performance. See [[Thu, 17-Mar-1983|the Gigography page]] for further details.<br/>
  
: ''Its significance is also reflected in the fact that throughout several years '''Halloween in Arkham''' was "blindly" taken as the source of information about the set list of a concert that didn't even take place, just because the back cover notes give the wrong date of the performance. See [[Thu, 17-Mar-1983|the Gigography page]] for further details.<br/>
+
: ''Beyond that, the bootleg regarding the 10th Anniversary gig for [[The Reptile House|Reptile House]] members on [[Sat, 16-Feb-1991|16 February 1991 at Leeds University]] is titled "[[The Return To Arkham]]". Perhaps, this name was chosen to render homage to the present album.
 +
<br/>
 +
<br/>
  
: ''The bootleg of the 10th Anniversary gig for [[The Reptile House|Reptile House]] members on [[Sat, 16-Feb-1991|16 February 1991 at Leeds University]] was titeled "[[The Return To Arkham]]". Possibly this title was chosen to render homage to the present album.
 
<br/>
 
 
[[File:Halloween in arkham painting.jpg|right|thumb|380px|''Dreams in the Witch House'' from the ''Halloween in Arkham'' series<br/>by Harry O. Morris Jr.]]
 
[[File:Halloween in arkham painting.jpg|right|thumb|380px|''Dreams in the Witch House'' from the ''Halloween in Arkham'' series<br/>by Harry O. Morris Jr.]]
 
'''Sources'''
 
'''Sources'''

Revision as of 18:30, 8 December 2016

Halloween In Arkham - Cover (front)
Halloween In Arkham - Cover (back)


<br(> One of the earliest 12" vinyl Sisters bootlegs.

Remarkably, Halloween In Arkham, which features the song No Time To Cry, was released before the official single, published on March 8th, 1985.

The version available here is, however, the one of the John Peel Session 1984, the first time the song was performed live.

Release Notes

  • Label: Arche Noire Records
  • Catalogue#: ANR 024
  • Format: 12" vinyl LP
  • Released: 1985


Remarks

  • Released in two editions
  • The first edition is limited to 500 hand-numbered copies.
  • The second edition is limited to 300 copies.
  • Vinyls have plain white labels with Cat# 523 etched into the run-out groove.
  • The cover of the first edition has a copper/gold-like coloured print, while the second edition comes with a pasted b/w copy instead.
  • The picture on the front is a low resolution copy of the art work "Dreams in the Witch House" by Harry O. Morris Jr., a contemporary American artist.
It is part of a serial of 15 grafics titled "Halloween in Arkham" created in 1979, which seems to be the origen of the name of the present album.
The artwork itself has got its title from a short story of the same name by H. P. Lovecraft, published first in 1933.


This information provides the basis for some evidence concerning the release date and the significance of this item.

First - as far as we know, three 12" bootlegs were released in 1984:
Live At Brixton Ace, Psychedelic Sessions 1984 and The Lights Shine Clear Through The Sodium Haze (with its derivatives Mercyful Release and A Merciful Release).
These three were the Sisters bootlegs that started everything. Then, in 1985, many more new bootlegs followed - with some significant ones among them. Nowadays it is difficult to figure out in which order they were released, but considering the remark about No Time To Cry, one can fairly conclude that Halloween in Arkham was one of the first bootlegs ever.
Cryptic Flowers, Halloween's Day, Knocking On Heavens Door and The Dancer's Reward do also feature No Time To Cry that was said unreleased at that time.
Armageddon Outtakes, Disguised In Black, Stonehenge and Tune In ... Turn Off ... Burn Out ... contain recordings from concerts performed in May, April or, accordingly, on the 16th or 13th of March 1985. These gigs took place after the release of No Time To Cry. So, in conclucion, all of these eight albums were released later than the present one.
This still doesn't give us a clue for the exact release dates of the bootlegs Live In The Troyan Horse and Possession, though the name of the latter album suggests is was release late in 1985 as the song Possession from which the bootleg title might be derived, was first released on March 11th, 1985 on First And Last And Always and performed live for the first time during the Tune In - Turn On - Burn Out tour. That tour started on March 9th 1985. Unfortunately we can`t proof this coherence, but at least we can reasonably conclude that Halloween in Arkham was among the first six 12" bootlegs ever released for The Sisters Of Mercy.
Second - it was the first time that a proper song of the The Sisters Of Mercy was publicated prior to the official release.
The '84 bootlegs offered so far had contained alternative versions like the Psychedelic Sessions 1984 album, or live recordings like Live At Brixton Ace and The Lights Shine Clear Through The Sodium Haze, the latter in combination with two studio recordings released earlier). Having all these features together on one Sisters bootleg and in addition even an unpublished Sisters composition, that was something totally new, and - of course - the bootleg became immediately sought-after. Insofar, Halloween in Arkham was right from the start an essential and significant collectors' item.
Its significance is also reflected in the fact that over many years Halloween in Arkham was "blindly" taken as the source of information on the setlist of a concert that didn't even take place, just because the back cover gives the wrong date for the performance. See the Gigography page for further details.
Beyond that, the bootleg regarding the 10th Anniversary gig for Reptile House members on 16 February 1991 at Leeds University is titled "The Return To Arkham". Perhaps, this name was chosen to render homage to the present album.



Dreams in the Witch House from the Halloween in Arkham series
by Harry O. Morris Jr.

Sources


For recent price developments see sistersbootlegs/HalloweenArkham or popsike/Halloween In Arkham.

Track List

Side One

A1   Alice
A2   Valentine
A3   Anaconda
A4   Body Electric
A5   1969


Side Two

B1   Sister Ray
B2   Poison Door
B3   No Time To Cry
B4   Walk Away
B5   Emma



Additional Pictures

- Please click into files for larger views -

Halloween In Arkham - Overview
Halloween In Arkham - Label